Joe Napsha stories, Page 123
Kennametal to close Hempfield plant
Kennametal Inc. said Thursday it will close its Carbidie manufacturing plant in Hempfield as part of its overall restructuring that includes shutting down two manufacturing plants in Germany and a distribution center, all within the next two years. Pittsburgh-based Kennametal, which has corporate offices in Unity, said operations at the...
North Huntingdon to hold hearing on liquor license transfer
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed transfer of a liquor license into North Huntingdon during a hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Town House, 11279 Center Highway. Isano II Inc., is asking the commissioners to approve the transfer a liquor license to a site...
Ross Perot’s ties to Western Pa. began with marriage to Greensburg native
A young Naval officer from Texas who came to Greensburg in 1956 to marry a local girl and went on to become a billionaire and two-time presidential candidate, is being remembered as a kind and thoughtful man who used some of his wealth to help make the region better. Lt....
Blood banks seeking donors; says blood supply in region at ‘critical shortage’
The American Red Cross and Vitalant Pittsburgh put out an emergency call Tuesday for blood donors. It is down to less than a three-day supply of most blood types, the Red Cross said in a statement.. The Red Cross said it has less than a two-day supply of type O...
West Overton’s distillery making whiskey; won’t be ready until July 2020Video
West Overton is distilling rye whiskey this week, just like it did when Henry Clay Frick’s grandfather, Abraham Overholt, was making it in a log building at his East Huntingdon farm in 1803. The production of Old Overholt was stopped in 1919 when the 18th Constitutional amendment — Prohibition —...
North Huntingdon seeking garbage collection bids
North Huntingdon is seeking bids from haulers to collect garbage and recyclable materials from residences, but not from the many commercial accounts in the municipality. The township commissioners recently authorized advertising for bids for a contract for residential service, beginning Jan. 1, 2020, and continuing through December 2023. The township...
New U.S. citizens sworn in at Fort Necessity, site of famous George Washington lossVideo
Isabel Sowinski’s birthday on Monday will be a special, once-in-a-lifetime event for the Plum resident. For the first time in her nearly 69 years, the Cuban-born Sowinski will celebrate her birthday as an American. On Wednesday, she became a naturalized citizen during ceremonies the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted...
President Trump headed to Wheeling on July 24 for private fundraiser
President Trump is headed to Wheeling, W.Va., for a campaign appearance at a private fundraiser on July 24 that will be sponsored by a coal company executive, according to reports from the Wheeling Intelligencer newspaper. Trump is to speak at the fundraiser at WesBanco Arena, which will be hosted by...
Ultimate Frisbee class slated in Penn Twp.
A six-week introductory class to ultimate Frisbee, for those 10 and older, will teach players the rules, skills and strategy of the game, beginning July 22 in Penn Township. Carla and Reed Stewart will teach the class held Mondays from July 22 to Aug. 19, at 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.,...
Husband charged in Somerset woman’s death after her body found buried under home
The husband of a missing Somerset County woman whose body was found buried underneath her home was jailed Wednesday on charges he murdered her, state police at Somerset said. James Dwayne Kline, 48, of Paint Township, was placed in the Somerset County Jail in connection with the death of his...
Fort Necessity to celebrate anniversary of the battle
Were it not for a French officer showing civility toward his vanquished foe — in which honor and head were left intact — George Washington’s scalp might well have hung from a native American’s lodgepole 265 years ago today near a circular wooden fort built out of necessity in a...
Ligonier man devoted to family and faith
For James E. McCracken of Ligonier, it was truly love at first sight when he saw Hazel Braden at a playground and knew that, one day, he was going to marry that girl. It did not matter that James was only 11 years old and the pretty girl was only...
Developer seeks to expand former Penn-Irwin motel site
The developer that purchased the former Penn-Irwin motel property along Route 30 in North Huntingdon wants to expand the parcel by buying a triangular slice of adjacent land owned by a McDonald’s restaurant franchisee. Colony of Irwin LLC, a North Huntingdon development firm with extensive commercial holdings in the township,...
PennDOT, state police to team up for July 4th DUI awareness campaign in GreensburgVideo
Celebrating the nation’s Independence Day by drinking at a party then getting behind the wheel is not only illegal and dangerous, it can be deadly. Nine people across Pennsylvania died over the July 4, 2017, holiday period in 94 alcohol-related crashes, a decline from 13 killed in 361 alcohol-related crashes...
Mt. Pleasant area man cared for foster children
Richard Frena loved children so much so that he and his former wife, Dorothy Marie, were foster parents to 41 over many years. “He wanted to help them out,” said his sister, Elizabeth Mizikar of Mammoth, Mt. Pleasant Township. “They would take in the children and care for them.” Richard...
Ft. Ligonier to hold `Friendly Fire’ demonstration
George Washington might not think it is an incident to commemorate from the French and Indian War, but Fort Ligonier is holding another “Friendly Fire Friday for Free” event on July 5, the second of four such events this summer. Special demonstrations, weather permitting, will feature musket and artillery firings...
Ex-NASA consultant to present astronomy program
A former NASA consultant will discuss the size and scale of the universe, the stars and other celestial wonders during a free program on astronomy at 10 a.m. July 6 at the Norwin Public Library, Caruthers Lane, Irwin. “Astronomy for Everyone” will be presented by Kevin Manning, an astrophysicist and...
Pa. jobless rate sets record low; nonfarm jobs at record high
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained at a record low level in May, while the number of nonfarm jobs rose to a record high, the state said Friday. The jobless rate remained at 3.8%, the same as in April and the lowest since records were kept dating back to 1976. The unemployment...
Norwin OKs tax hike; maintains staff, programs
For the fifth consecutive year, Norwin property owners will be hit with an increase in school taxes under a tight 2019-20 budget the school board narrowly adopted Monday. By a 5-4 vote, the school board approved a $73.6 million budget that includes a hike in property taxes in the Westmoreland...
State aid, local funding helps Straub expand tap room, visitor center at brewery
Gone are the days of the old Eternal Tap at the family-owned Straub Brewery in St. Marys, where one might stand and take a taste of the hand-crafted beers at the end of a tour of the facility because the place lacked amenities such as tables and chairs. That’s all...
Penn Twp. Democrats to clean Bushy Run monuments
The Penn Township Democratic Committee will be performing a service project at Bushy Run Battlefield along Route 993 at 9 a.m. Saturday. In an effort to help beautify the park and honor first responders, the group will clean and landscape around the first responder monuments. For more information, contact Christine...
Safety program set for Conemaugh River Lake this weekend
A festival to promote outdoor safety and raise awareness about the Conemaugh River reservoir, bordering Indiana and Westmoreland counties, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Conemaugh River Lake, 1665 Auten Road, Conemaugh Township. Tours of the dam, children’s activities, safety demonstrations and a free lunch...
Flood waters trap people in vehicle in Monessen
Emergency responders rescued occupants of a vehicle surrounded by flood waters around midnight Wednesday, according to dispatches from the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety. Monessen firefighters responded to Graham and Parente boulevards at 11:50 p.m. where about four people were stranded in a vehicle surrounded by flood waters. All...
Western Pennsylvania wrestles with China’s recycling restrictions
The wall that China has built around imported recyclable materials like some plastics and glass is hitting home, as communities around Southwestern Pennsylvania will see costs rise while fewer recyclable materials will be collected. “It’s a national issue. This is a market-driven issue that is affecting everyone,” said Ellen Keefe,...
KKK flag photo prompts calls for Sewickley Township supervisor’s resignation
A Ku Klux Klan flag that hung inside the Sewickley Township public works building at least two years ago created a “hostile work environment” for employees, township officials were told amid calls for the resignation of the roadmaster who also is a township supervisor. Former supervisor Alan Fossi called for...
